Robb Vices August 2015 “Handcrafted in Brooklyn” Box Review

Robb Vices is a brand new subscription box that sends you a unique selection of curated products every month.

Each box will feature handpicked, top-of-the-line items in categories ranging from food & drink, to tools & toys, fashion-related items, and more. To quote their site: This isn’t for everyone. This is for the individuals who care about why something is considered great, want to discover the story behind it, and share what they have with those who matter to them.

Subscriptions are $74.95/month, or less with multi-month commitments.

Let’s see what’s in the August 2015 Robb Vices box!

There were so many products included that they had to ship them in two separate boxes.

Here’s a peek inside the second one. I’ll spare you a zillion “opening box” shots. 😉

An info card listed most of the products in the box, along with brief descriptions for each one. I was a bit confused as to why my box contained more things than shown on the card and was informed that they’ll be including a clearer log of everything included in future boxes. Good to know!

August’s box was themed “Handcrafted in Brooklyn” and featured some great Brooklyn-based products.

Greenhook Ginsmiths American Dry Gin – I was surprised to see a FULL BOTTLE of gin in the box! Greenhook Ginsmiths was founded in 2012 and have since become known as one of America’s premier gin artisans. I don’t think I had ever actually tried gin until receiving it in this box and I gotta say, I’m not a fan. 🙁 I don’t know if it was the gin or the limes my husband squeezed in it, but it was way too strong/bitter for me. He seemed to enjoy it though!

Limes – Speaking of limes… They actually included 9 of ’em in the box to go along with the gin. Very cool!

Pineapple Gomme Syrup – Three bottles of pineapple syrup were also included to use with the gin and limes. I wasn’t sure exactly how to mix them and thought maybe there should have been a recipe in the box. Turns out, I was right… There was indeed supposed to be a recipe card included, which I was sent via email.

Recipe – The featured recipe was “The Decatur”, a specialty cocktail by Dan Sabo. It conveniently utilizes all of the ingredients included in this month’s box and is described as a “twist on a pisco punch, married with a gimlet”.

Hella Bitters – Ginger-lemon flavored bitters made in small batches using natural ingredients. The company was founded by three friends in Brooklyn in 2011 and continues to thrive today.

Usagi Copper-Plated 3-Piece Cobbler Cocktail Shaker – How pretty is this shaker?! It’s copper-plated and super sturdy (read: heavy!). It features a 1-ounce cap and was recommended by the top mixologists in Brooklyn. (I should note that this did come in its original packaging, but it got crushed during shipping. Trust me, it wouldn’t have photographed well. 😉 )

Brooklyn Slate Cheese Board – This beautifully crafted cheese board is perfect for serving cheeses & hors d’oeuvres. It measures 11.5″ in diameter and is sourced from a family quarry in upstate New York. It comes with a burlap bag, soapstone chalk and anti-slip padded feet. While I don’t personally have a use for a cheese board, I’m hoping I can find some other use for this. It really is a nice piece!

Brooklyn Baking Barons Honey Whiskey Bites – These little cakes look absolutely delicious and I’m a little bummed that I can’t taste one myself. They’re the brainchild of Chris Poeschl and Tony Lanuza, two Brooklynites who baked the original honey whiskey cake in 2014 and have since begun offering it to the world.

Wow! — I am beyond impressed with this debut box from Robb Vices. I can’t believe how many items were included… and QUALITY ones at that! I didn’t do a total cost breakdown, but the cheese board alone sells for $40 on their site and I was told the shaker retails for $70. There’s absolutely no doubt that you get your money’s worth and then-some with this subscription. Can’t wait to see what future months bring!